Agave will protect against diabetes

A new study by a team of scientists from the National Biotechnology and Biochemistry Institute (Biotechnology and Biochemistry Irapuato), Guanajuato, Mexico found that a plant that gave tequila to the world contains substances that help lower blood glucose in people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well as weight loss. The results of the study were published on the website of the American Chemical Society.

The beneficial properties of agave are determined by its content of polysaccharides – fructans, which are not absorbed by the human body and are suitable for use as a sweetener. But it should be noted that the beneficial properties of fructans were not revealed in tequila, since during its manufacture they are converted to ethanol.

Agave frutkans stimulate the production of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) – a hormone that helps stimulate insulin secretion and lower blood glucose concentration.

During the study, scientists conducted an experiment on animals. The diet of the subjects consisted of a standard diet and water with agave fructans. Moreover, every day, all animals were weighed, and the level of glucose in the blood was measured weekly. It turned out that in most animals that consumed agave fructans, there was a decrease in body weight and blood glucose concentration.

The author of the study, professor Mercedes López, noted that agave fructans give a feeling of satiety, which can help obese people lose weight.

In addition, scientists noted that agave fructans are a good sweetener compared to unnatural sweeteners that are absorbed by the body and can cause side reactions (in particular, headache).